One of the perks of being a billionaire is that you can get what you want almost immediately. With superyachts, however, even that kind of instant gratification still takes two to three years. In the case of Harvard-educated tycoon Sir Leonard Blavatnik, the wait for his roughly $350 million superyacht O3 lasted almost a decade.The 351-foot Lürssen mammoth began life as Icecap and later became known as Project Shackleton, before being sold to Canadian billionaire John Carter Risley in 2018.
Sold during the construction phase itself, O3 then entered phase two as the pleasure craft of the Ukraine-born billionaire. Looks like the yacht is finally home, as she has now been delivered to her owner following her departure from the yard’s facilities in Hamburg, Germany, as shared by Boat International. The maiden journey of the vessel took her from a brief stop in Kristiansand, Norway, on 6 June for refuelling to the coast of Denmark.
It is a behemoth of the high seas, boasting a total volume of 6,561 GT and accommodation for up to 20 guests. Stunning and utterly distinctive thanks to her axe-style bow, O3 looks commanding from afar with her utilitarian gray-and-white palette and serious silhouette. The vessel appears as though she means business, with not fun and laughter but the exploration of our beautiful planet as her purpose.
The aft section proves as much, as one does not spot a swimming pool, sunken firepit lounges, or a beach club, but rather an expedition-ready logistics zone. Somehow, it fits perfectly with a tycoon who built his fortune not through Warner Music alone, but through chemicals and industrial investing on a massive scale.
Yes, Warner Music made Len Blavatnik a visible pop-culture billionaire, but it was not the original engine of his immense $41 billion fortune. That is exactly what O3 reflects. It is not a flashy toy, but the real deal, with an ice-class hull, large tender, toy and equipment stowage, cargo-carrying capability, and a certified helipad.
Even the interiors, crafted by CG Design, remain tightly under wraps, adding another layer of intrigue to a yacht that is clearly built more for purpose than display. It is not a toy meant for optics, but for experiences that, in a sense, only money can buy. For that purpose, the 68-year-old once enjoyed Odessa a 164-foot yacht named after his birthplace, and a larger $80 million Odessa II,a 240-foot Nobiskrug with exterior styling by Focus Yacht Design, interiors by H2 Yacht Design, room for 12 guests. But O3 arrived as an upgrade not just in size, but in mission too.
